Jad-on Show

WHL to USA

Arsene Wenger was offered and signed a new two-year deal despite protests

With his team sixth in the Premier League and facing the threat of a second season without Champions League football, Wenger has been struggling to convince his players to match his commitment to Arsenal.

He is resigned to losing star striker Alexis Sanchez but is not yet ready to wave goodbye to Mesut Ozil, whose ­contract also expires this summer.

Wenger added: “We are still speaking with Mesut and those talks are very much alive.

“There is still an opportunity for him to stay and I am more optimistic about that than I was in the summer.

“It looks like Sanchez will not extend his contract but we want to keep Jack Wilshere and, maybe if we keep Ozil, the rebuild will be less deep than if we lose all three.”

Arsenal appointed contract negotiator Huss Fahmy last summer to avoid the threat of more key players running down their contracts.